Early in the morning on Wednesday 6 November an enthusiastic group of five gathered at Amsterdam airport for the 6h45 flight to Athens, where 3 more were awaiting our arrival. With participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic and Taiwan, it truly was an international group that attracted positive reactions from the Greek hosts at various airbases.
Our early morning flight meant that we landed in Athens around 11h00 and after pick-up of the car we were on our way for a number of Wrecks & Relics on our way to Kalamata. With the busy traffic in downtown Athens, we decided to take the south-western route. With a good number of people interested in civil aviation as well, a quick stop was made at the old airport where a few classic jetliners were stored before heading to a preserved C-47 at a restaurant. A nice view, but difficult for photos in between shops, a restaurant and apartment buildings. Soon we were navigating the tight streets towards a very well preserved Mirage F1 at a memorial for lost Air Force pilots. Next stops were near the Air Force Headquarters were we found an F-5 in a park/playground and another Mirage F1 and a Harvard at the HQ itself. After the Athens stops, a F-104 halfway towards Kalamata was on the to-do-list, arriving there in nice evening light. Another hour later we arrived in our B&B in downtown Kalamata. Being 15 minutes away from the air base, we had a relaxing evening.
